MOLES AND SHREWS 
(Insectivora) 
THE animals of this order are distributed in all parts of the 
world except Australia. The only representatives in North America 
are the shrews and moles, and, indeed, these two groups make 
up the bulk of the order throughout its range. 
Nearly all the insectivores are terrestrial, the moles burrowing 
in the ground, the shrews living in burrows and also on the surface. 
They are mainly insectivorous as their name implies, though some 
species vary their diet. 
Our American species are all of small size and are clothed 
with very soft, silky fur. The eyes are small and rudimentary, 
while the teeth bear considerable resemblance to those of the 
Carnivora. 
Our two families may be distinguished as follows: 
l. Shrews. Family Soricide. Fore feet similar to the hind 
ones and not modified for digging. Appearance mouse- 
like, but with a much more slender-pointed snout. 
Scarcely a trace of an external ear. 
Il. Moles. Family Talpide. Fore feet very broad and turned 
on edge, specially adapted for digging. No external ear 
whatever. 
SHREWS 
(Family Soricide) 
Our shrews are all of small size, some of them being the 
most minute mammals known. They have the same soft fur 
as the moles, but both eyes and external ears are better developed 
though still inconspicuous, as we should expect, from their living 
more or less in subterranean runways. 
They form three well marked groups: the short-tailed shrews, 
long-tailed shrews and the marsh shrews. 
179 
